VUSM students discover their future at Match Day

By Lynne Hutchison and Carole Bartoo July 2009

Vernon Rayford will be going to Massachusetts General Hospital. Photo by Joe Howell.

Match Day for Vanderbilt University School of Medicine’s Class of 2009 was more than a thrilling event — it was life changing. At 11 a.m. Thursday, March 19, each member of the graduating class learned what his or her future held. Match Day is the crowning moment when thousands of medical students across the country learn where they will take the next step in their medical training: their residency.

The students started the process a year ago by listing the residencies that interested them. After completing applications and attending interviews, they ranked the programs, which in turn ranked them. A computer then matched programs with students to give each their best choice. On Match Day, the results were revealed simultaneously nationwide.

Of the 98 students matching with residencies across the country, 32 will remain at Vanderbilt. A host of other students matched at additional top programs, including Johns Hopkins, the Cleveland Clinic, the Mayo Clinic, Massachusetts General, New York Presbyterian-Weill Cornell, Barnes- Jewish Hospital, Beth Israel Deaconess, Cincinnati Children’s and Brigham and Women’s.

This year the School of Medicine matched 12 students underrepresented in medicine — the largest number in the school’s history.

“We know how fantastic our medical school graduates are, and it is clear that the best residency programs around the country know it, too,” said School of Medicine Dean Jeff Balser, M.D., Ph.D.